Results 12,341-12,360 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

Financial Resolution No. 5: Income Tax (6 Dec 2011)

Brendan Howlin: I thought the Deputy said €30 million.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (6 Dec 2011)

Brendan Howlin: For the purposes of PQ number 38320/11, I have taken "the total pay, benefits and claimed expenses of the Information Commissioner" to refer to the Ombudsman/the Information Commissioner/the Commissioner for Environmental Information. The Ombudsman was appointed to her roles as Ombudsman and Information Commissioner with effect from 1 June 2003 for a period of 6 years and was subsequently...

Written Answers — Freedom of Information: Freedom of Information (6 Dec 2011)

Brendan Howlin: My Department is carrying out preparatory work to implement the commitments in the programme for Government. When this work is complete I will bring proposals to Government in relation to the Freedom of Information Acts. These proposals will include the proposed extension of the provisions of the Freedom of Information Acts to the Property Registration Authority.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (6 Dec 2011)

Brendan Howlin: My Department has no function in this particular matter.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (6 Dec 2011)

Brendan Howlin: As legislation was enacted in July 2011 to establish my Department, I am not in a position to provide relevant details for the period prior to then. However, 43 staff members in my Department have had increments paid to date. It is not possible to provide the Deputy with the number of increments that will be paid in 2012 as payment of increments is subject to sick leave and punctuality...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (6 Dec 2011)

Brendan Howlin: Since its establishment in July 2011, my Department has operated a shared service arrangement with the Department of Finance in respect of certain goods and services acquired by one, or other, of the Departments. I understand that the Minister for Finance will provide the estimate requested by the Deputy using 2010 as a reference year and that will cover both Departments.

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (6 Dec 2011)

Brendan Howlin: As the Deputy will know, there have been several retrenchments in public service pension conditions which have applied to serving staff and current pensioners in recent years. The Financial Emergency in the Public Interest Act 2009 introduced a pension-related deduction amounting to some 7% of pay on average, while the Financial Emergency in the Public Interest (No.2) Act 2009 reduced pay by...

Written Answers — Public Service Reform: Public Service Reform (6 Dec 2011)

Brendan Howlin: On 17 November, I announced several key developments relating to Public Service Reform and published the Government's Public Service Reform Plan which sets the basis for the comprehensive and strategic reform of the Public Service in the coming years. The challenging fiscal position which we face means that far-reaching reform of the Public Service is essential in order to ensure it is...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (6 Dec 2011)

Brendan Howlin: The four former Chairmen of the Revenue Commissioners each receive a pension of €114,839.40 after Public Service Pension reduction. As is normal practice the names of the relevant Civil Servants are not included in the reply.

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (6 Dec 2011)

Brendan Howlin: The position at the moment is that the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2010 provides for an average Public Service Pension Reduction (PSPR), with effect from 1 January 2011 and estimated to save €100 million in a full year, of about 4% of pension in line with the following rates and bands: Annual Public Service Pension (€) Reduction Rate First 12,000 0% Between...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (6 Dec 2011)

Brendan Howlin: The data sought by the Deputy is currently being collated and will be provided to the Deputy as soon as possible. Any inconvenience caused by this delay is regretted.

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (6 Dec 2011)

Brendan Howlin: It has not been possible to collate the data in the time available. It will be provided to the Deputy by the end of this week. Any inconvenience caused by this delay is regretted.

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (6 Dec 2011)

Brendan Howlin: I have submitted draft Heads of a Bill amending the Valuation Act 2001 to the Government for approval. Subject to such technical adjustments as may be found necessary in the course of drafting, approval is also sought to publish the general scheme for the information of the public, in line with the Programme for Government commitment on Dáil reform to publish such details at an early stage...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (6 Dec 2011)

Brendan Howlin: Public procurement regulations which transpose the provisions set out in EU Procurement Directives require that contracts above a certain value must be advertised EU wide and awarded to the most competitive tender in an open and objective process. The aims of the regulations are to promote an open, competitive and non-discriminatory public procurement regime which delivers best value for...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (6 Dec 2011)

Brendan Howlin: I propose to reply to this question on behalf of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and Department of Finance as a shared service Training Unit now provides training services to both Departments. I have taken the phrase "senior civil servants" to represent the grade of Assistant Principal Officer and upwards for the purpose of this question. Many courses are undertaken by...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (6 Dec 2011)

Brendan Howlin: As part of the general examination of budgetary policy in Ireland, the discussions with the EU-IMF and ECB have reviewed the main aspects of pay, pensions and numbers policy in the civil and public service. The discussions have covered developments in these areas in the recent past and the prospects for the medium and longer term. The Troika reports set out their views on these and other...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (7 Dec 2011)

Brendan Howlin: There are no plans to make any changes with regard to contributions to existing spouses' and children's schemes. The Commission on Public Service Pensions examined the issue of compulsory membership in its Final Report on Public Service Pensions. It did not recommend any change in the rules providing for automatic membership of the spouses' and children's schemes, nor in the refund...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (7 Dec 2011)

Brendan Howlin: Information regarding the total number of retirees from the Civil/Public Service under the Incentivised Scheme of Early Retirement (ISER) who have not yet reached age 60 is not available in my Department. However, for the Civil Service for which I have direct responsibility, it is estimated that there are approximately 730 ISER retirees under the age of 60. The total amount of the...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (7 Dec 2011)

Brendan Howlin: In general, when a Department or statutory body is advertising a job vacancy, good recruitment practice requires that information be made available to candidates via a public advertisement including the nature of the position, whether it is full time or part time, the nature of the duties, the educational and work experience requirements. The circumstances giving rise to the vacancy are of no...

Written Answers — Caiteachas Ranna: Caiteachas Ranna (8 Dec 2011)

Brendan Howlin: Mar fhreagra ar an Teachta, is féidir liom a rá i dtaobh ionadaithe poiblí a d'fhéadfadh bheith fostaithe freisin ag comhlachtaí stáit, go gcuimsítear iad faoi na socruithe seo a bhaineann le híocaíocht táillí maidir le comhaltacht de chuid bord stáit.